Shoe-polishing machine.



A. H. R. HELLER. SHOE POLISHING MACHINE.

1,076,035. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11. 1912 Patented 21,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Auaus'r HRHELLBR. WITNESSES INVENTOR.

fiufihwmmi 1 A TTORNE Y.

A. H. R. HELLER.

SHOE POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.11,1912

Patented Oct. .21, 1913.

4 SHEETS SHEET 2.

AU aus'r H.R.HELLER INVENTOR.

AT RNEY WITNESSES:

WW ,I

A. H. R. HELLER.

SHOE POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11. 191;

1,076,035. Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

4 SHEETSSHEBT 3 f 13 IN V EN TOR.

A. H. R. HELLER. SHOE POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 11, 1912.

Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

4 SHEBTS-SHBET 4.

[N V EN TOR.

HUQUSTHRHELLEH;

WITNESSES:

291% 772/ Z} 7laurc A TTORNE Y.

AUGUST H. R. HELLER, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOEJOLISHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters P-atent.

Patented Oct. 21,1913.

Application filed November 11, 1912. Serial No. 730,626.

To all whom iii/may concern 'Be it known that I, AUGUST H. R. HELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State-of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new .and useful Improvements in Shoe-Polishing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in shoe polishing machines and is designed especially to provide an inexpensive, compact and efficient coin actuated device for the purpose of automatically shining the shoes of patrons.

The invention involves several improved -features in connection with the rotary brushes by means of which the likelihood of soiling the trousers or hosiery is eliminated; the device may be adjusted to varying heightsof shoes or boots; improved starting and stopping devices, the latter being automatically actuated, are provided, and certain other meritorious characteristic advantages .will be apparent from the following specification.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention, (and two modifications which may be embodied therein) constructed according to the best modes I have so far devised for the prac tical application of the principles.

Figure 1.is a plan view of part of the .mechanism, the upper structure being omitted for convenience of illustration. .Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the machine, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of annpper portion of the machine shown in Fig. 2, the parts being broken at lines 1 1. Fig. 4 is a rear view of the machine, the casing being omitted. Fig. 5 is a detail of the clutch actuating device for intermittently operating the air pumps used to create pressure for-spraying the fluid blacking or liquid polish. Figs. (3 and 7 are detail top plan and side elevations of the rack wheel of Fig. Fig. 8 is a section of one of the driving shafts on line 4--4 Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a detail view of means for separating and holding apart one pair of brushes when a shoe is not present for polishing. Fig. 10 is a modified form of brush operating connection. Fig. 11 illustrates one of the fluid blacking or liquid polish tanks with an air pressure equalizing areservoir .thereon, showing connections whereby the liquid blacking is sprayed onto the shoe. Fig. 12 is a detail view showing the clutch actuating mechanism for reversing the travel of the .reciprocable carriage. Figs. 13 and 14 are views at right angles to each other of a packed joint in the air pump connections. Fig. 15 is a detailed view of one of the air pumps showing its actuating mechanism. Figs. 16 and 17 are detail views of a pressure adjusting device to regulate the quantity of blacking sprayed on the shoe being polished. Figs. 18 and 19 are detail views of a spring device for holding apart one pair of the horizontally rotatable brushes when not at work. Figs. 20 to 23 show a modified form of means for moving the adjustable foot rest. Fig. 20 is a plan partly .in section. Fig. 21 is a rear view looking in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 22. Fig. 22 is a side view looking i the direction of the arrows Fig. 21. Fig. 23

is a detail view of the actuating lever.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention I employ an electric motor which is operated by the presence of a coin nickel) deposited in a slot or chute. The motor is adapted, through connections as will be described, to reciprocate a brush supporting carrier or carriage; actuate air pumps to create pressure for spraying liquid blacking on a shoe; rotate two pairs of horizontal and one vert' ?al brush. and if desired actu ate an advcrtisiu device; and through suitable connections including clutch mechanisms, the action of the carriage is reversed at the end of its movements; the air pumps are governed; and the brushes are continuously rotated during a predetermined period.

It will be understood that the shoes are polished in succession and that the entire machinery stops while a polished shoe is withdrawn and the second shoe inserted, the machinery being again started by the patron as will be described.

The entire machinery is inclosed within a suitable casing 1 having a convenient opening for the insertion of the shoe of the patron, a shoe being indicated at 2, Fig. 2, in proper position for polishing. The shoe is supported upon a rest 3 which is fashioned to conform to the shape of the shoe, and is supported by means of a single post 4 that is vertically adjustable and may be held in the socket 5 by screw 5', and the socket may be in turn longitudinally adjusted with relation to the supporting base 6 through the medium of the slotted arm 7 of the socket and the clamping bolt 8 and nut 9, as will be clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2. In this manner, the foot rest, which is located centrally of the machinery may be adjusted to differing sizes and shapes of shoes, an d held in adjusted position. After being adjusted to proper position the foot rest is held immovable and stationary by means of the set screw and bolt.

A carrier or carriage 10 is adapted to reciprocate in proximity to the foot rest and upon this carriage are supported two pairs of horizontally rotating brushes indicated by the numerals 11, 12, 13, and 14, and a fifth brush 15 which is vertically rotatable. The means for rotating each ofthe four horizontally rotating brushes is identical, and one connection only will be described in detail.

Referring particularly to the brush 13 (Figs. 1 and 2) it will be seen that it is supported upon the vertical shaft 16 which is journaled in a bracket 17 and provided with a bevel gear 18. The bevel gear 18 meshes with a complementary gear 19 on shaft 20 inclosed within the tubular portion of the bracket17, and the other end of the shaft has a bevel gear 21 meshing with a gear 22 on a stud shaft 23. The lower end of the stud shaft 23 is provided with a bevel ear 24, and each bevel gear 24 engages one ofour gears 25. The gears 25 are located in pairs on one of two operating shafts 26 and 27. These shafts are identical, except that they rotate in reverse directions, and each is provided with grooves 28 in which the keys 29 may slide. The keys hold the gears 25 to their shafts 26 and 27 so that the gears rotate with the shafts as well as slide thereon (see Fig. 8). The carriage 10 is supported to slide on these operating shafts by means of the downward extensions 30, 30, and the frames 31 .which support the brush operating gears also slide on these shafts with the carriage.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the brushes 11 and 12, 13, 14, are shown in close proximity, but in actual use when operating upon a shoe, the brushes are held apart by the presence of the shoe. The 'individual brushes of the set are constantly urged toward each other, and thus against the shoe 2 by means of four springs 32 secured to the frames 31, but I provide positive means for spreading apart the two brushes 11 and 12, which for convenience I, shall hereinafter term the heel brushes. The springs 32 are held in clips 32 attached to frame 17, as clearly seen in Figs. 18 and 19.- It is desirable that these heel brushes be held apart to permit insertion of the toe of the shoe to be polished, and this result is accomplished by means of the toggle levers 33 whose arms 34 are pivoted at 35 on a frame post 36. The toggle lever is actuated through the spring plunger 37 and its head 38 by means of a. six-toothed ratchet 39 and pawl 40. A collar 37 limits the movement of the plunger 37. The ratchet wheel 39 carries a pin 41 and is supported in a frame 42. The actuation of the ratchet 39 will be described later, but it will be understood that the movement of the plunger 37 to the left in Fig. 1, will spread apart the two brushes 11 and 12. A projection or pin 17 on each of the brackets 17 for supporting the brushes 11 and 12 provides contact points between levers 34 and brackets 17:

The brush 15 which rotates vertically is supported through its shaft 43 in the air of arms 44 which are pivoted by their shaft 45 in the posts 46 of the carriage. Thebrush 15 may be permitted to swing upward on its axis 45 b means of the slotted side links 47, pivoted at 48 in the post 46, but springs 49 tend to pull the brush downward. Thus, the brush may tion thereunder of the toe of the shoe,'but the springs 49 will hold the brush in constant contact with the shoe.

The brush 15 is rotated through the medium of the meshing gears 50, 51, the former on the shaft 43 and the latter on shaft 45 described, and the shaft 45 is driven from a lower transverse shaft 52 (supported in the carriage) by means of sprocket wheel 53, chain 54 and sprocket 55 (at the right in Fig. 4). In Fig. 1 it will be seen that the shaft 52 is rotated from the shaft 28 by means of the pair of bevel gears 56 and 57.

The carriage is reciprocated through the connection between the screw bar 58 supported in the frame to rotate, and the threaded nut 59 carried beneath the carriage 3. This screw bar is rotated from the spin dle 60 of the electric motor 61 and is alternately driven in reverse directions by the shafts 26 and 27. The shafts 26 and 27 are driven counter-clockwise and clockwise respectively (as indicated by the arrows Fig. 4) from the motor 60. The shaft 26 is driven direct from the spindle 61 through the s rockets 62 and 63 and chain 64, and the shaft 27 is driven in reverse direction by the interposition of the gears 65 and 66 to rotate the sprockets 67 and 68 and chain 69.

The screw bar is rotated in one direction from the shaft 26 by means of the sprockets 70, 71 and chain 72, and in the other direction from shaft 27 by sprockets 73, 74 and chain 75. The position of a clut 11 member 76 movable on the screw bar 57, etermines the direction of rotation of the screw bar. As shown in Fig. 1, the screw bar is receiving motion from the shaft- 27 through the clutch spool 76 and sleeve 77 integral with sprocket 73, it being understood that ,the

be lifted by the inserthe carriage.

sion is indicated in Fig. 12 wherein it is; shown in contact with a fixed sleeve 83 atspool76 is splined to revolve continuously with the screw bar, but. sleeve 77 is loose onv pivot 80 by means of the shift rod 81' (see- Fig. 12). The shift rod is moved by contact from anextension 82; depending from The movement of the extenone end of its movement and at the other end of its movement is adapted to contact with a fixed nut 84 (see dotted lines). In this manner the spool 76 is shifted at thea description of one will suffice for both., Referring particularly to tank 86, it will beair of tapering nozzles 87 and; j 88 project rom thetank toward the shoe seen that a to be polished, and in Fig. 11' a mouth 89 is illustrated opening from the nozzle 87. The tank contains liquid blacking, and thisblacking is sprayed from the mouth of the nozzle 89 on the shoe to be shined by means of compressed air. The air pressure is pro vided from the air pumpor compressor 90, the plunger 91 being reciprocated from the intermediate gear or crank 92 by means of the gear 93 on shaft 45. In order to allow for the necessary oscillation of the compressor 90, I provide a packing box 94 at the joint 95 where the compressor is pivoted to the tank, and air is compressed from the compressor through thepipes 96, 97 to the equalizing chamber of a vessel or container 98 located on top of the tank. The compressed air is distributed to the nozzles;88 through pipes 99 (see Fig. 1) and the quan tity of blacking sprayed to the shoe may be regulated by means of the air pressure ad jus'ting dome 100, opening into'the tank86. This dome is provided with a perforated top, and a perforated cap 101 is rotatable thereon, so that when turned properly the perforations may permit escape of compressed air to reduce the pressure in the tank. The pump or compressor 90 is operatcd intermittently, that is only during the time that the shoe is being shined, and its clutch 90' is thrown out of engagement after the sixth return movement of the carriage by means of the cam ratchet 91 provided with the cam face 92 androta-table on the carriage. stop by coming in contact with pawl '93 on the brushes lland l2 apart.

screw bar, as will- This ratchet is rotated step by.

a stationary frame 94' and after the sixth return movement the cam face 92' engages I the shift lever 95 and disengages'the' clutch. :thus stopping the compressor.

Reverting again to Fig. 9, the six toothed ratchet 39 is moved by the pawl 40 which is pivoted on the cross bar 102 extending 17. The ratchet is moved one'notch at the end of each return movement of the carriage. When five teeth have passed the pawl 40, the sixth tooth brings the pin 41 into engagement with the head 38, and -shoves the plunger 37 to distend the arms 34 which bear against pins 17 and throw It will of course be understood that this device is set to distend the arms at a predetermined period, and to act only when the machine is not Working and to free the shoe from the brushes.

The machinery is operated by the'presence of a coin dropped in the slot or chute. The coin indicated in dotted lines at 103 and 103, Fig. 2, closes an electric circuit between wire 104 attached to the chute, an insulated lever arm 1 05, and wire 106, to rotate the motor 61, thus driving the described parts. The let'er 105 is fulcrumed at 107 and is held by spring 109, so that the two lugs 110 and 111 shall fit into the slots or recesses 112 in the chute 102. \Vhenthe coin is dropped in the chute it first stops at point 103 and is held there by the lug 110 which is located in its path of movement. While the coin is present at this point the motor is running and driving the machinery to shine the first shoe by the movemerit of the carrier and its rotating brushes.

The carriage is permitted to make six return movements while the coin is at point 103. After the first six reciprocating movements of the carriages during which it shines the first shoe, the coin is released from position 103, the circuit is broken, and the motor and machinery stop. The first shoe is between opposite brush supporting brackets then withdrawn, and the second shoe inserted for shining.

To throw off the lever 105, I provide a sixtoothed ratchet 113 whose shaft 114 is fixed in the carriage frame and carries also a. sprocket wheel 115. .The ratchet Wheel is rotated step by step by the reciprocating carriage through the medium of a pawl 116 carried on the carriage frame. The rotation of the ratchet rotates sprocket 115, and through chain 117 the sprocket 118 is rotated. Sprocket 118 has thereon a contact lug 119 which is adapted to engage the lever 105 and when so engaged depresses the lever withdrawing the lugs 110 and 111 from their sockets 112. This action is accomplished at the end of the sixth return movement of the carriage, and the machinery is now idle. The coin now drops on to a plunger rod 120. After the second shoe has been inserted within the machine the motor is again started as follows :The patron pulls on the spring plunger 120 and releases the coin which falls to position 103' where it again makes circuit, starts the motor, and the second shoe is shined as before described.

A rotatable advertising disk 121 may be located in the upper part of the casing. This disk may be divided into six spaces, and is rotated with a step by step motion from shaft 114 through the medium of sprockets 122, 123 and chain 124. The sprocket 123 is located on and rotates the shaft 125, and motion is transmitted from this shaft to the disk shaft 126 through bevel gears 12? and 128 as will be under stood.

In Fig. 10, I have illustrated a modified means for driving the brushes 11, etc., in which I employ a belt 130 over pulleys 131.

In Figs. 20 to 23, a hand lever 132 is illus trated to elevate the foot rest. This lever is fixed on the ratchet bar 133 and a ratchet 134 thereon engages a rack 135 on the post 1 of the foot rest. By moving the lever properly, the rest may be elevated or depressed as will be understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a carriage and rotatable brushes arranged thereon in pairs, means for reciprocating said carriage and rotating the brushes, means tending to move the brushes of each pair toward each other, a pair of toggle levers having divergent arms and means for actuating said levers a pair of toggle levers having divergent arms bearing on the brushes of one pair to positively separate them, a plunger, and a rotatable rack adapted to move said plunger to actuate the toggle lever.

3. The combination with a pairof brushes and their supporting frames, of a toggle lever having arms bearing on said frames, means urging the brushes toward each other, and means for actuating said levers to positively separate the brushes.

4. The combination with a pair of spring pressed. rotatable brushes and their supportmg frames, of a toggle lever having arms bearing on said frames, a spring pressed plunger adapted to open the toggle lever, and means for moving said plunger.

5. The combination with a pair of pressed rotatable brushes ing frames, of a toggle lever having arms bearing on said frames, a spring pressed plunger adapted to open the toggle lever, a ratchet wheel adapted to be rotated, and means on said wheel for engaging the plunspring and their supportger to separate the brushes.

In testimony whereof I aflix my in presence of two Witnesses.

AUGUST H. R. HELLER. \Vitnesses JOHN F. SWEENEY, \V. A. HInTLa.

signature 

